Automatic adjustable die.



No. 640,596. Patented 1an. 2, |900..

F. H. STAHL.

AUTUMATICYADJUSTABLE DIE.

(Application med my 12` 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l,

W/TNESSES /NVENTH Arron-NE ys.

No. 640,596. Patented Jan. 2, |900. F. H. STAHL.

AUTOMATIC ADJUSTABLE DIE.

(Application med May 12. 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J W//a/ru W 7 nu. 640,590. Patentedlan. 2, |000. F. H. STAHL.

AUTOMATIC ADJUSTABLE DIE.

(Application tiled may 12. 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(N0 Model.)

Arrow/EMS.

. E .m im .9 Y.\\m.

www -..5: EA!- Y ms Pm'sns co. PNoToLJTNa.. wAsmNuroN u c No. 640.596. Patented lan. 2, |900. F. H. STAHL.

AUTOMATIC ADJUSTABLE DIE.

(Application filed May 1v2. 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

W/TNESSES: NVEIVTO? Fra/M: l/wy JM.

A TTORNE YS.

NITED STATES FRANK HENRY STAHL, OF` CHARLESTOVVN, VIIST VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC ADJUSTABLE DIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,596, dated January 2, 1900.

Application tiled May 12, 1899.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK HENRY STAHL, residing at Charlestown, in the county of Jefferson and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Automatic Adjustable Dies, of which the following is a specication.

My invention is an improve ment in threadcutting dies for use in cutting threads on pipes or rods and in general brasswork; and it has for an object to provide a die which will be automatic in releasing the blades from the work when it is desired to run the die back to another cut and also to provide means whereby to effect the' convenient adjustment of the die to suit different sizes of rods or pipes, as well as to take up Wear on the cutting-surfaces of the blades.

The invention has for further objects other improvements; and it consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of the die with the blades adjusted into position for use, and Fig. 2 is a side view of the die with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end View of the die with the blades adjusted out to position to permit the sliding of the die off the work, and Fig. 4 is a side View of the die with the parts in the adjustment shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section on about line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section on about line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a crosssectional view on about line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an end View similar to Fig. 7, but showing the sleeve adjusted to set the blades inward by means of the cam.` Fig. 9 is a cross-section on aboutline 9 9 of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section on about line 10 10 of Fig. l. Fig. 1l is a detail section on about line 11 11 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 illustrates, the device for locking the adjustment-ring from movement. Fig. 13 is a detail view illustrating the carrier-block and the springs used for throwing out the die-jaws. Fig. 14 is a detail view of the jaw-setting cover. Fig. 15 is a detail View of the handle for said cover. Fig. 16 is a detail view of the throwo pins. Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 2O illustrate the die-jaws. Fig. 21 is a detail View of one Serial No. 716,604. (No model.)

of the locking-levers, and Fig. 22 is a detail View of the adjusting-ring.

By myinvention I provide the several dieblades and support them in such manner that they may be adjusted to proper relation to cut the thread upon the end of a pipe-section and may when such thread has been out in a lathe or other suitable machine be automatically released and spread apart, so the die can be moved quickly back for another operation. This avoids the objection in the use of the ordinary die which requires when the thread has been cut that the motion of the lathe be reversed in order to remove the die, which follows the thread back to the startingpoint. The saving of time by the automatic release is apparent, as one motion will return the die to its former position, the old style of die requiring much more time iu following the thread back to the starting-point, also the time necessary for reversing the speed and the wear and tear of the belting and machinery, all of which is saved by the use of my improved die. In the ordinary die different dies are necessary for each gage of thread, While by means of a special adjusting feature my dies can be adjusted readily to Various gages, thus combining a number of dies in one and enabling me to take up Wear on the cutting-surfaces of the die-blades, thus increasing the usefulness of the die.

, Another desirable feature of my improvement is its safety. In the use of the ordinary die if the lathe is not reversed promptly in running a thread up to a shoulder the die Will run up too far and jam against the shoulder, spoiling the thread and frequently breaking the die. By the automatic release incident to my die this becomes an impossibility, and the release can be set to secure the automatic spreading of the dies at any desired point.

In carrying out my invention I employ a carrier block or head A, (shown in detail in Fig. 13,) carried upon the shank B, Which latter is in operation secured in the turrethead of a monitor-lathe or similar machine. This carrier-block A has a central bore A' leading into the shank B, which is slotted at B' for the passage of the lyoke C, Which has a cross-bar C', receiving the threaded shank C2 of the screw, whose head C3 forms an abutment for engagement by the end of the pipe IOO or other ywork being threaded. This yoke C also has the arms or flanges C4, which engage the back wall of the jaw-setting cover, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and operate to throw oif said cover and release the die-jaws, so the latter can spread in the operation of the device. The block A is also provided with longitudinal openings D',in which playthe throwoff rods D, which are provided at their inner ends with heads D2 to prevent their displacement. In the adjustment of parts shown in Figs. 1 and 10 the pins D bear at their inner ends against the rear wall of the jaw-setting` cover and project at their outer ends beyond the outer ends of the die-blades presently described, so they may be engaged by the shoulder or other abutment on the lathe and push the cover-sleeve back to release the die-jaws when the thread has been cut to the desired point.

In its outer side the block A is provided with channels A2 for the die-jaws and with sockets A2, leadingr from such channels for the springs A4, which actuate the die-jaws outward in the operation of the die. A iange A5 is formed circumferentially at the outer end of the block A and forms at its inner side a shoulderor bearingA6 for engagement bythe outer edges of the cams in the jaw-setting cover presently described.

The die-jaws E are shown in detail in Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20, and they are preferably formed with a body portion E' and separate blades E2, having at their inner edges the thread-cutting portions and adj ustably connected with the body portion E', so the blades can be adjusted in or out on the body E for the purpose of varying the gage of the thread, as well as for taking up wear upon the thread-cutting surfaces. In securing the blades E2 they are provided with slots E4 for the passage of the screws E2. The blades E2 also have outwardly-projecting Shanks E5, which extend through slots or passages E, beyond the body E', in position for engagement by the outer ends of the locking and adjusting levers F, of which I provide one for each of the die-jaws, and which, like the die-jaws, are alike, so a description of one will answer for all.

In the adjustment of the several parts of the die for use the outer ends of the levers F rest upon the outer ends of the extensions or Shanks E5 of the blades. This is important for two reasons, as the levers thereby posi'- tively lock the blades from any outward movement and also operate when the levers are -operated by the adjusting-ring to set the dieblades uniformly inward to any desired gage.

The die-jaws iit within the channels A2 of the block A and are provided with inwardlyextending shoulders G and G, which overlap, respectively, the outer and inner ends of the block, and thus prevent any lateral displacement of the die-jaws and at the same time permit the movements of the die-jaws in and ont. It should be understood that these diejaws are pressed normally outward by their respective springsV A4 to spread the die and are forced inward to compress the die to position for use by means of the cams on the jaw-setting cover H, which I will now describe.

The jaw-setting cover H is shown in detail in Fig. 14 and is fitted in operation upon the carrier-block and over the die-jaws, being movable longitudinally and also rotarily Within certain limits for the purposes presently described. This cover-sleeve H has a cylindrical portion H and the back plate H2, the latter being arranged for engagement by the throw-off devices C and D, before described. By these throw-off devices the cover-sleeve is moved longitudinally rearward from the p0- sition shown in Figs. 2 and 5 to that shown in Figs. 4 and 6 to free the die-jaws and permit the same to be forced outward by their springs A4, as before described In its inner face the Acover-sleeve is provided with the cams I, leading circumferenltially from the channels I', as best shown in vided with lugs J, forming bearings for the levers F, with threads K next to its rear end for the adjusting-ring L, and with a handle M, by which the cover-sleeve may be moved rotarily. The ring L also has a handle L and is provided at its front edge with a cam-surface L2, which engages beneath the rear ends of the levers F at F and may thus operate to adjust the said levers F, as well as to lock the same in any desired adjustment. the ring L, I provide what for convenience of reference I term the cring-locking bolt N, which is threaded at N to engage Within the threads of the ring L, as shown at Figs 10 and 12, and is provided with a threaded stud N2, eccentric to the threaded surface N' and turning into the rear wall H2 of the coversleeve, as shown in Fig. 10, and with a head N2, b'y which the bolt N may be turned to cause its threads N' to move into and out of engagement with the threads of the ring L. By reason of the eccentric pivot N2 of the bolt N the same may be turned to engage and lock the ring L, as shown in Fig. 10 and in full lines in Fig. 12, or it may be swung clear of the ring L, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 12, to permit the ring L to be moved freely in either direction.

To limit the movements of the cover-sleeve rotarily I, provide its back plate H2 with a curved slot H2, which receives a stop-bolt H4, as shown in Figs. 9 and 11.

IOO

IIO

To lock When the parts are in position as shown in Fig. l, the die-jaws are held inward in position to cut the thread by means of the coversleeve, which is adj usted to the position shown in Fig. 5, with the steps 3 of the die-jaws ly ing in the channel I2 of the cover-sleeve and in line with the channels I' between the cams I and the outer ends of the levers F, bearing upon the outer ends of the shanks E5 of the blades E2. In this position the die-jaws are doubly locked, one locking being edected by the fitting of the steps 3 of the jaws in the outer end I2 of the cover-sleeve and the other being eected by the bearing of the levers F upon the outer extensions E5 of the blades. If now the die be run upon the pipe to cut the thread, the jaws will be held in the position shown in Figs. l and 5 until the throwoff devices are operated. These devices may be the pieces D or the yoke C, either of which when pushed rearwardly will force the coversleeve back. These pins and yoke are pushed rearwardly in the manner before described, and the jaws are released by such ope-ration by the pushing of the sleeve back, so the outer end of the sleeve will tit on the steps 2 of the jaws, the outer ends of levers F will slip off the blade-shank E5 onto the steps 3, and the steps l of the jaws will lie in the way I between the cams, the die-jaws being forced outward by the springs A4. The several parts will now be-in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and the die can be slipped freely back oif the pipe or rod which has been threaded. To reset the jaws, the sleeve II can be moved rotarily by the handle M from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to that shown in Fig. 8, the movement being limited bythe slot H3 and pin H4. In this movement the cams I will force the die-jawsinward, and such jaws will be in position, as shown in Fig. 8, to properly thread the work, and to this extent such construction is useful; but to provide for automatically releasing the die-jaws I provide for adjusting the cover-sleeve so it will retain the said jaws contracted and yet 'can be pushed back to release the jaws. To this end the cover-sleeve after it has been set to the position shown in Fig. 8 is given a motion longitudinally forward and rotarily back from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown inY Fig. l. These two motions may be given simultaneously by moving the sleeve rotarily as it is pushed forward, or the sleeve may be moved first forward on the die-jaws to bring the outer end of the sleeve over the steps 3 of the jaws to secure the die-jaws inward, and then the sleeve may be given its backward rotary movement to bring the die-jaws into alinement with the spaces between the cams of the sleeve, so the sleeve when pushed backward will release the jaws, and the latter may be forced outward by their springs.

It will be noticed from the foregoing that the sleeve has cams to operate the die-jaws and also means for securing the die-jaws when compressed and during the readjustment of the sleeve to position to permit the automatic release of the jaws in the operation before described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a die substantially as described the combination of the carrier-block having radial channels, the die-jaws operating therein and provided with front and rear flanges overlapping and fitting against the front and rear ends of the carrier-block whereby the jaws are held and guided in their radial movements, the springs for opening the jaws, and means for closing the jaws substan tially as set forth.

2. The combination of the die-jaws, the support for same, the coversleeve arranged to operate the die-jaws and provided with the projecting lever-arms arranged to overlie the outer ends of the die-jaws, and means for moving the cover-sleeve to release the diejaws, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the die-jaws having the movable blades, the cover-sleeve arranged to operate said die-jaws, the levers pivoted to said cover-sleeve and arranged to engage the blades of the die-jaws whereby to operate the same, and means for operating said levers substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the die-jaws stepped and having the separate blades provided with the projecting Shanks also forming steps, the cover-sleeves having cams for closing the jaws, and the enlarged channel at its outer,

end, the levers pivoted to the coversleeve and engaging the shank of the die-j aw blades, and means for operating said levers substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the die-jaws having the movable blades, the blocks supporting the same, the cover-sleeve, the levers thereon and arranged at one end to engage the die-jaw blades, and the ring threaded on the cover-sleeve and engaging the opposite ends of the said levers whereby to operate the'same substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the threaded ring and threaded portion receiving the same, of the bolt having its axis parallel with that of the ring and threaded to mesh with the threads of the ring and pivoted eccentrically to the threaded portion receiving the ring, whereby the bolt may be turned to set it into and out of engagement with the threaded ring substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the die-jaws, the support for same, the cover-sleeve, and the levers thereon, of the ring for adjusting said levers, such ring being threaded on the cover-sleeve, and the bolt pivoted eccentrically to the cover-sleeve and having the exterior threaded portion movable into and out of mesh with the threads of the threaded ring substantially as set forth.

8,. The combination of the carrierblock having the central bore and the longitudinal passages for the throw-od pins, the die-jaws,

IOO

IIC

the cover-sleeve having a back plate arranged for engagement by the throw-off pins, the throw-off pins operating in such passages and projecting beyond the outer end of the head and the yoke arranged to engage the back plate ofthe cover-sleeve and having the bolt in the bore of the carrier-block, all substantially as described whereby the cover-sleeve may be released by engagement of the outer ends of the throw-oh? pins with ashoulder on the Work or by the engagement of the end of the pipe or rod being threaded with the bolt on the yoke substantially as set forth. Y

9. The combination of the carrier-block having channels for the die-jaws, the diejaWs tted in said channel and having Ithe die-blades, the springs for opening the diejaWs, the cover-sleeve movable longitudinally and rotarily on the die-jaws whereby to close the die-jaws, hold the same closed and release them, the levers pivoted to the coversleeve and arranged at their outer ends to engage the die-jaws, the ring engaging the inner ends of the levers whereby to operate the same, means for locking said ring, and throw-off devices for releasing the coversleeve substantially7 as set forth.

10. The combination of the die-jaws having the movable blades fitted in said jaws and projecting at their outer ends beyond the jaws and the cover-sleeve arranged to operate the jaws and provided with projecting portions arranged to overlie the projecting portions of the movable blades of the die-jaws When the latter are in operative position substantially as set forth.

Y FRANK HENRY STAHL.

Witnesses:

CHA-s. H. SMITH,

WM. B. Woont/YARD. 

